German Bundestag, Plenarprotokoll 20/12,
p. 743.
Many thanks. Frau President. Valued colleagues.
The agriculture is stuck in one of the worst crises of all
times: Prices which do not cover costs, considerably more expensive leases,
farmer bashing, excessive fertilizer prices and much too much bureaucracy. As a
farmer, I can say to you: For all the rest of the afternoon, I could tell of
yet other things.
To the matter at hand. At the entry into office, the new
Federal government and those responsible to the Chancellor spoke of the Great
Transformation. For my part, I can only hope that at the end of this Great
Transformation does not stand the end of our domestic agriculture.
As last year the global supply chains came undone on
account of the Corona virus, we saw, honorable colleagues, how susceptible are
our supply chains and our economy worldwide. I certainly do not want to imagine
in this place what would happen in this country if toilet paper and food were
lacking in the stores. I ask you all for once to consider it.
For this reason, I can only admonish you to support the
farmers, to strengthen their operations and to offer them a reasonable,
economic perspective so as to secure the provisioning of our population in
Germany. Turn away from the import craze and come back to the standard of “Made
in Germany”, especially in regards to food! We will thereby gladly help you to
create standards that take care for this, that work well with our farmers here
in Germany, that enable them to produce quality, high-value and regional food
without being pushed to the edge of ruin. Reasonable, crop-oriented fertilizer
and an appropriate crop protection would be the necessary foundation stones
fitting for this, just as fitting as planning security and guarantees for the
farmers which still pay tomorrow for today’s investments.
I then need say one thing: We have previously heard some
contributions regarding the swinekeepers and the prices. Ladies and gentlemen,
we have unfortunately heard nothing of the African swine flu which here spreads
ever further. There are nevertheless only sporadic preventive measures against
this expansion. This threatens the swinekeepers throughout Germany. But good,
so much on that.
Yet again on the ranchers [Weidetierhaltern]: We heard that we want to make the stalls nicer. But
just for once let us begin with protecting our livestock, protecting against
predators like the wolves! At best, let us lighten the burden of proof for
cases of laceration [Rissvorfällen],
or overturn it completely so that these ranchers also have a future which you
here, ja, apparently just do not want
to take into consideration.
Ideology was never a good counselor and it certainly is also
not in regards the topic of wolves.
The theme of species variety we have also heard of here
today. It is naturally very interesting that here we breed predatory animals
which then subsequently feed on production animals [Nutztiere].
– Frau President, I have the time in view; I am almost done.
Last but not least, a few words on what was previously
decided on here by the government and which also was absolutely negative for
the German farmer: The reduction of the value-added tax assessment rate which
was reduced from 10.7 to 9.5 percent. That was an absolute hit for general
agricultural operations. This decision this year costs the farmers 90 million
euros which the Federal government itself has quickly pocketed. Many thanks for
that to the government, and from me as a farmer!
– A last sentence, then I am done. Herr Minister Özdemir, we
will measure you by your actions. Create better future perspectives! We will
thereby naturally support you. A sly, old country proverb says: As the farmer
lives, so lives the country.
Many thanks.
[trans: tem]
